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Message from Linda Doherty, NJCCC Chairwoman

NJCCC Chairwoman Linda Doherty

The NJCCC has the proud distinction of leading a grassroots charge to ban single-use bags at retail locations throughout the state, paving the way for Governor Murphy to sign a landmark law that went into effect in May 2022.

The law has been an amazing success – with billions of single-use bags no longer filling New Jersey’s waste stream every year. No longer are bags blowing in the wind in retail parking lots, floating in our waterways and filling our landfills. 

As part of the statewide roll-out of the law, the NJCCC has been tasked with undertaking a comprehensive education campaign known as LitterFreeNJ. The program has many facets, but a singular goal: to ensure the success of the bag ban, widely considered the most progressive of any state.

Based on the success of the program, some residents who shop online have accumulated a surplus of bags. We have also heard from many food pantries, food banks and social service agencies, all of which have an ongoing need for these same bags.

So, as part of the LitterFreeNJ campaign, we are making an important connection.

We are proud to have launched a statewide reusable bag distribution program, ensuring needy individuals have ongoing access to reusable bags. The program features a QR code on store receipts, connecting shoppers to a handy app that lists local agencies in their communities accepting gently-used bags. These collection sites sanitize and recirculate the bags.

This tool is a tremendous collaboration with local and county solid waste agencies, the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Goatote, Recycle Coach, the Girl Scouts in Mercer County and the New Jersey Food Council (of which I am President & CEO.) 

This fall, the NJCCC and its partners are proud to have launched a pilot in six counties, as we eagerly look forward to reaching all 21 counties and 564 municipalities in New Jersey. The QR code will be featured on many more printed receipts, shopping circulars, store signage and on the reusable bags, as well as a digital button to further expand our reach.

As the LitterFreeNJ campaign proactively evolves to address any and all issues related to the state’s single-use bag ban, we are eager to give consumers a consistent outlet so they no longer accumulate unwanted reusable bags or – much worse – discard them in the trash.

We urge you to learn the very latest about our bag redistribution plan at LitterFreeNJ.com. We hope that you participate in this important initiative or sign up to host a community bag collection site in your town.